Current quarter iPod sales tracking below plan - analyst

While admitting that it may be too early to make a precise call on Apple Computer's September quarter iPod shipments, one Wall Street analyst says data from the first month shows sales to be tracking just below expectations.

In a research note released to clients on Tuesday, PiperJaffray analyst Gene Munster said his analysis of NPD data from the month of July — the first month in Apple's September quarter — suggests iPod sales of around 8.0 million for the quarter.

Munster had modeled Apple to sell 8.6 million iPods in the September quarter, which he says the company can still achieve if it ships a new or updated iPod nano by the end of September.